Under new guidelines, CBSE has clarified that the three-language policy will not apply to the Class 10 batch of the 2026-27 academic session.
Three-language policy: Class 10 batch exempted from 3rd language exam: The Central Board of Secondary Education on Monday issued new guidelines regarding the implementation of the three-language policy. The board said that the focus will remain on learning languages in a meaningful way, and no student will be disadvantaged because of the new system.
Under new guidelines CBSE has clarified that three- language policy will not apply to the Class 10 batch of 2026-27 academic session. As a part of relaxation, students currently studying in class 7, 8 and 9 will not have to appear for a CBSE board examination in the 3rd language after they are promoted to class 10.
CBSE also clarified that current Class 9 batch must study three languages. But they are permitted to choose two foreign languages and one Indian language. As a relaxation, students of the current class 7 and 8 batches who have already selected two non-native languages—will only need to choose one Indian language and continue with it up to Class 10. For the students of current Class 7,8 and 9 batch, the third language will be assessed through internal school evaluation, and there will be no board examination for it.
This development comes more than a month after the CBSE announced that it would be mandatory for Class 9 students to study three languages, including at least two native Indian languages effective from July 1. Many students and parents had approached the courts to challenge the CBSE’s directive.
